Air cleaner



April 30, 1940. D. B. sA Km ET AL AIROLEANER Original Filed April :5, 1936' 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I'll/67220729 J5 Bakr. j Zzf 056072112000 JZCHZWZ'sOug/Z 711;?15

I April 30, 1940.

D. B. BAKER 5: AL

AIR CLEANER Original Filed April 3, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 AIR 0112mm David B. Baker, Riverside, William 0. Bechman, Chicago, Ralph C. Hartsough, Ber'wyn, and

Lloyd F. Overholt, Riverside, lll., assignors to International Harvester Company, a corpora- UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE tion of New Jersey Application April 3, 1936, Serial No. 72,634

' Renewed June 30, 1939 s Claims.

This invention relates to an air cleaner. More specifically it relates to an air cleaner of the liquid contact type, commonly known as the oil bath type. In the use of air cleaners for engines, it has been found necessary to use a liquid wetted surface in order to obtain the necessary effectiveness inremoving the fine particles. In cleaners of this type, oil is usually mixed with the air stream prior to its contact with a filter medium, such as crimped wire wool or screens. In cleaners of this type difficulty has been encountered with clogging of the filtering material,

particularly when chaff or similar organic material is drawn into the cleaner.

- The object of the present invention is to provide an improved air cleaner of the oil bath type in which the air is first projected against a liquid body and in which a specially designed air path is provided to effectively remove the entrained oil and both the heavy and fine particles present as impurities in the air.

Another object is to provide an improved gas and liquid contact unit for intimately contacting the air with the liquid and for effectively removing the liquid from the air stream.

These objects and others relating to construetionaldetails will be apparent from the detailed description to follow. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of an air cleaner embodying the invention with one half broken away by a vertical section substantially through the center line to show the component parts'of the cleaner;

Figure 2 is a section on the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section on the line l-lof Figure 3;- and, I

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5--5 of Figure 3.

The drawings illustrate a cleaner of the type used for' tractor engines. A cylindrical'x-casing Ill openat its bottom end is secured to an annular member I I which provides means for attaching the cleaner to inlet and outlet conduits. An air over the lower end of the casing l0,- abutting at its uppe'rend 'a flange l5 which is securedto the ca'sin gbwall. A band l6 circling the casing above the flange 15' provides means formed by A the pressed out portions I! for connecting headed links l8 utilized for securing the cup ll in posi-- tion. A strap 20 is illustrated extending across the bottom of thecup I4. The remainder of the clamping means, which is not shown, maybe of any conventional construction. The cup is removably supported in position whereby it may be readily removed for cleaning and filling with oil. To assist the operator in maintaining the proper oil level, a mark. formed by pressed out portions of the cup is provided, as indicated in t Figure 1. It will be noted that the lower end of the inlet conduit I2 terminates slightly below the oil level when the cleaner is in a static condition; that is, when air is not flowing through i the cleaner in appreciable volume.

A bafile cup 2| is positioned in the oil cup spaced from the end of the inlet conduit l2 in overlap- 1 ping relation with respect thereto. The lower end of the baflle cup 2| slopes inwardly to a large center opening 22 formed in the bottom, which provides communication between the oil reservoir cup and the interior of the baflie cup. At equally spaced positions the baflie cup 2| is supported in position by brackets 23. Said bracketsare secured to the lower end of the casing H) by bolts 24. Inwardly formed depressions 25 are provided inthe lower end of the casing wall I0 to provide pockets-for the bolt heads and to ofiset the plane at which the connection is made, for r a purpose hereinafter described.

At the upper end of the baflle cup 2|, 2. pluwardly, terminating adjacent the inlet conduit I2.

Spaced above the upper edge of the baflle cup 2| a sufiicient distance to provide an air flow path, a deflecting baflie 21 contacts the conduit l2 and extends downwardly in spaced overlapping relation with respect to the upper wall portion of the baflle cup 2|. Said baflle is secured to the 'cup 2| by three circumferentially spaced, vZ- shaped strap members 28 attached to the baflie and to the cup.

A perforated screen 29, frusto-conical in shape, extends downwardly from the outside wall of the baflle 21 in contact therewith and is clamped in position at its lower end by bolts 24. Sam screen may be perforated in any suitable manner to provide a large percentage of its area for the flow of'air therethrough andto break up the airflow into a plurality of streams, thus affording a scrubbing action. T

In the annular space formed between the casing Ill and the inlet l2, 9. filtering and oil separating unit is mounted. This unit consists o1.

slits during the forming operation.

a plurality of frusto-conical bellies all. As these bailles are identical in construction, one will be specifically described. Each baflle 30 is provided adjacent the air inlet Ill with a down-turned flange, which contacts and closely fits the conduit. The slope of the baille downwardly from the inlet conduit to the casing I is about 30 degrees, as illustrated. At its lower, outer end, the bailie 30 is curved downwardly with the edge portion being slightly spaced from the casing, as illustrated in Figure 3. This spacing distance is about one-sixteenth of an inchin a practical embodiment of the invention. To provide for spacing and maintaining the bailles 30 in position, vertical bars 3| are fltted'in circumferen-' tially-spaced indentations 32 formed in the peripheral edges of the baflles. These bars locate the baflles in position with respect to the wall and with respect to their common axis.

Each baille 30 is provided with a plurality of radial slits 33 increasing in width at their lower ends. As shown by the sections of Figures 4 and,

5, a small flange 34 'is formed at one side of the The remainder of the material pressed out to form the slit is bent upwardly to'form a curved flange 35. These flanges serve as deflectors in providing a tortuous air path and as contact elements; The

flanges at each side of the slits form between the adjacent slits oil return troughs-by means of which the separated oil and dirt run downwardly in a quiet zone, where the air stream does not hinder its flow, to the lower peripheral edges of the vbailies. The oil collected between said edges and the casing runs downwardly through the space'provided;

Below the lowermost baille 30, a cylindrical wall 36 is mounted in spaced relation to the easand is thereby mixed and agitated to break up 'the oil particles and to eilfectively contact the ing wall to form an oil return passageway. The upper end 31 of the member is flared inwardly to direct the air away from the returning oil stream. The member 36 extends below the normal liquid level to thereby form an oil return passageway out of the path of the air flow. .The

conduit l2 impinges the suri'ace'of the liquid of the cup 21 depositing a substantial portion of theheavy dirt, a portion of the lighter particles, and some of the chair and similar organic material. The air, then, passes upwardly carrying with it a substantial amount of oil entrained in contact with the oil inthe cup 2|. The air with the entrained oil strikes the agitating member 28 air with the oil particles. 'Ihe'air stream'is,-then. deflected downwardly by the baiiie 21. A large amount of the oil with the entrained foreign material is thrown out against the conical baille 2|, which acts as a scrubber, breaking up the oil into foam, and thus an intimate contact is made between oil-and air. The oil returns to the reservoir I. The airpasseethroughthe perforated screen 2! and upwardly into the fllter unit. By

means of the rrusto conical baillc construction,

as described, with the slits staggered to obtain a tortuous passage, an effective intimate contact is obtained, whereby a high efliciency of dirt and oil removal is accomplished. As the air and the entrained oil pass upwardly, the oil is separated from the air and it flows down the upper walls of the bailles between the flanges 34 and 35. The air passes outthrough the openings and the oil collects "along the. casing wall and flows downwardly through the oil return passage formed by .the member 38. By this construction, an

' effective cleaner is'provided which is not easily clogged by either organic materials or by a large percentage of dirt and similar particles.

Although applicants have shown anddescribed only a'pr'eferred embodiment of their improved air cleaner, it is to be understood that they claim -as their invention all gas and liquid contact devices falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An air cleaner comprising a cylindrical casing open at the bottom, an oil reservoir fitted over the bottom of said casing, an air inlet conduit positioned centrally or the casing and termlnating in the reservoir, and a series of spaced frusto-conical a'pertured' battles in contact with the air inlet conduit and extending downwardly therefrom toward the casing wall, said baflies being formed with staggered slits and with upturned flanges adjacent the slits to form tortuous air paths and 011 return troughs between the slits and terminating in slightly spaced relation with respect to the casing wall to form oil return passages.

2. An air cleaner comprising a cylindrical casover-the bottom of said casing, an air inlet con- .duit positioned centrally of the casing and terminating above the normal oil level in the reser-. voir, a home cup extending upwardly in spaced overlappingrelation with respect to the air inlet, said cup being in communication with the oil reservoir at its lower end, a deflecting baille over said cup, a cylindrical member spaced from the casing wall and extending below the normal liquid level and upwardly along the casing wall to form an oil return passageway, an intercepting screen extending downwardly from the deflecting wall to the cylindrical member, and contact material between the inlet conduit and the casing wall.

.ing open at the bottom,'an oil reservoir fitted 3. An air cleaner comprising a cylindrical casing open at the bottom, an oil reservoir fitted over the bottom or said casing, an airinlet conduit positioned centrally of the casing and termi-' nating adjacent the normal static oil level in the reservoir, a banle cup extending upwardly in spaced overlapping relation with respect to the air inlet, said cup being in communication with theoil reservoir at its lower end, an annular deflecting" baille' extending radially outwardly from the air inlet conduit above the upperedge oi the heme cup and downwardly in overlapping spaced relation with respect to the upper portion or said cup,- a cylindrical member spaced from the casing wall and extending below the normal. liquid level and upwardly along the casing wall to form an oil return passageway, an intercepting screen extending downwardly and outwardly fromthe deflectingbaille t'o'the cylindrical member, and contact and oil separating means between the air inlet conduit and the casing wall.

4. An air cleaner comprising a cylindrical ca'sing open at the bottom, an ,oil reservoir fitted tured baflies in contact with the air inlet conduit vover the bottom of said casing, an 'air inlet conduit positioned centrally of the casing and terminating adjacent the normal static oil level in the reservoir, a battle cup extending upwardly in spaced overlapping relation with respect to the air inlet, said cu-p being in communication with the oilreservoir at its lower end, a cylindrical member spaced from the casing wall and extending below the normal liquid level and upwardly along the casing wall to form an'oil return passageway, and a series of spaced frusto-conical apertured bafiies in contact with the air inlet conduit, and extending downwardly therefrom toward the casing wall, said baflles terminating in slightly spaced relation with respect to the casing wall to form oil return passages.

6. An air cleaner comprising a cylindrical casing open at 'the bottom, an oilreservoir fitted over the bottom of said casing, an air inlet conduit positioned centrally of the casing and terminating adjacent the normal static, oil level in the reservoir, 2.- baiile cup extending upwardly in spaced overlapping relation with respect to the air inlet, said cup being in communication with the oil reservoir at its lower end, an annular defleeting bailie extending radially outwardly from the air inlet conduit above the upper edge of the baffle cup and downwardlyin overlapping spaced relation with respect to the upper portionf of said cup, a cylindrical member spaced from the casing wall and extending below the normal liquid,

level and upwardly along the casing wall to form an oil return passageway, an intercepting screen extending downwardly and outwardly from the deflecting baflle to the cylindrical member, and

said cup being in communication with the oil reservoir at its lower end, an annular deflecting baiiie extending radially outwardly from the air inlet conduit above the upper edge of the baflle cup and downwardly in overlapping spaced relation with respect to the upper portion of said cup, a conical oil retaining baflle below the lower edge of said deflecting baflle extending from the baflle cup toward the casing wall, a conical stream member extending between the deflecting baiile and the casing wall, a cylindrical member spaced from the casing wall and extending below the normal liquid level and upwardly along the casing wall to form an oil return passageway, and a series of spaced conical baflles in contact with the air inlet conduit and extending downwardly therefrom toward thecasing wall, said baflies terminating in slightly spaced relation with respect to the casing wall to formoil-return passages, said baflies being formed with staggered radial slits, said slits being formed by upwardly pressed-out portions of the baiiies whereby downwardly sloping oil return troughs are formed between adjacent slits.

8. A gas and liquid contact device comprising a vertical cylindrical casing providing an inner wall, a cylindrical member extending centrally of said casing providing an outer wall, said walls together defining a contact space annular in cross section, and a series of spaced frusto-conical.

baffles positioned in said contact space and in-' clined in the same direction, the upper edges of the baflies being in contact with the wall to which they lie adjacent and the lower edges'being slightly spaced from the wall to which they lie adjacent to form liquid drain passages and said baflles being formed with staggered slits and with up-turned flanges adjacent the slits to form liquid return means between the slits.

9. An air cleaner comprising a casing open in the bottom, an oil reservoir fitted over the bottom of said casing, an air inlet conduit terminat' ing in the reservoir and a series of closely spaced baffles each extending downwardly in the same direction across the casing, the lower edges of the baiiles terminating in slightly spaced relation with respect to the casing to thereby form oil return passages, and said baiiles being formed with sta gered downwardly extending slits and with upturned flanges adjacent the slits to provide oil return means therebetween.

10. An air cleaner comprising a casing .open in the bottom, an oil reservoir fitted over the bottom of said casing, an air-inlet conduit terminating in the reservoir, a series of closely spaced apertured bafiies each extending downwardly in the same direction across the casing, the lower edges of the 'baflles terminating in downwardly extending flanges slightly spaced with respect to the casing to thereby form oil return passages, and a wall spaced from the casing and extending from adjacent the lower edge of the bottom bafiie to the reservoir to provide an oil drain passage out of the path of the air flo 11. An air cleaner comprising a cylindrical casing open at the bottom, an oil reservoir fitted over the bottom of said casing, an air inlet conduit positionedcentrally of the casing and terminating in the reservoir, and a series of spaced frusto-conical apertured bafiies extending from the air inlet conduit toward the casing wall, said together defining a contact space annular in 'cross section, and a series of spaced frusto-conical'bafiles positioned in said contact space and inclined in the same direction, the upper edges of the baflies being in contact with the wall to which they lie adjacent and the lower edges being provided with liquid drain passages and said baflies being formed with staggered slits and with flanges adjacentthe slits at each side thereof to form liquid return means between the slits,

13. An air cleaner comprising a casing open turn passages, and saidbaiiles being formed with in the bottom an oil reservoir fitted over the botstaggered downwardly extending slits and with tom of said casing, an air inlet conduit terminatflanges adjacent the slits at each side thereot ing in the reservoir and a series of closeLv spaced to provide oil return means therebetween.

baflies each extending downwardly in the same 0 DAVID B. BAKER. direction across the casing, the lower edges of the 0 WILLIAM O. BECHMAN. baflies terminating in" slightly spaced relation -R.ALPH C. HARTSOUGH.

with respect to the casing to thereby form oil re- LLOYD 1". OVERHOLT. 

